Fortunately I am not a superstitious person. Here I am taking over the role of Newsletter Editor and what number do I start at? No. 13! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Carol Brent and my husband David and I moved to 38 Sewell Avenue in 1993. I have a special affection for Holt Copse as for part of my childhood my family lived in Larch Avenue and my sister and I used the park (as we called it) as an extension to our garden. I have many happy memories and am keen to play any small part in maintaining and preserving the copse for future generations. You may have already met my daughter Louise (more front than Brighton!) aged 4. Louise loves exploring "the jungle" and has her own favourite tree. I can’t wait to see the expression on her face when we go to visit the bluebells later this week. I have to say that Louise and I only joined the HCCV last December and so have only attended a few work parties but Louise certainly proved her worth cheerfully dragging branches to the dead hedges. You are never too old or too young to learn.

I must thank Jack Meatcher who has produced the most excellent newsletters. Jack will be an impossible act to follow. I do not walk through the Copse on a regular basis so if this newsletter is to retain its value I will be dependant on other members submitting articles or the odd paragraph re any developments / sightings etc. Please do keep me posted – a phone call will suffice if you do not wish to supply the text.

I believe "an enjoyable evening was had by all". I managed to stuff quite a quantity of cheese and biscuits down my neck despite the fact that I had only just eaten. I know that Nic will be circulating the minutes in the near future so I will spare you the gory details and merely deliver a few bullet points:

• Treasurer – Mike Davis was duly appointed after ruthlessly fighting off all opposition!

• WTC had commissioned and produced an exhaustive report of all trees in the copse.

• Coppicing to continue in the current area. Scrub holly and laurel to be cleared from a wider area.

• Hedge laying to continue on the Reading Road hedge.

• Boardwalks – No further constructions this year.

• Dates for surveys and work parties were set.

April 30^th Flowers 7.00 pm

May 7^th Bats 8.00 pm

June 11^th Bats 9.00 pm

June 30^th Tidying Up Work Party 9.30 am

July 9^th Bats 9.00 pm

Please note the first survey date is next Tuesday.

I have not yet taken part in any of the surveys and am looking forward to greatly increasing my knowledge of the flora and fauna. I am particularly intrigued by the bat surveys. Having observed bats swooping about in the gloom in my back garden I was greatly relieved when Colin informed me that you count the bats emerging from their hole in the tree rather than on the wing!

Start time 9.30am.

October 12^th Coppicing Led by Colin

November 9^th Holly Clearing Led by Jack

November 23^rd Hedging Led by Colin

December 7^th Coppicing Led by Nic

December 28^th Coppicing (probably)

January 18^th Coppicing/Hedging

February 8^th Coppicing

Please write all of the above dates in your diaries / calendars NOW.

The meeting point for surveys and work parties is at Jubilee Avenue as usual.

I have been very impressed by the enthusiasm, knowledge and organisational skills of Nic Hopkinson, Colin Melhuish and Jack Meatcher. These chaps really do an excellent job of leading our merry little band. Many thanks for all the time and effort you put into the HCCV.

Finally, I look forward to seeing you all in the coming weeks. Please do contact me with any news items – you will be sorry if you don’t because I can’t half fill a page with rubbish!!

Carol Brent 23^rd April 2002

01189 776784

david.brent@ntlworld.com

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